BUENA PARK – What began with fewer than 10 costumed employees and some skeletons scattered here and there is now the longest-running – and one of the biggest – Halloween events in Southern California.

This year's Halloween Haunt that begins Friday will be Knott's Berry Farm's 40th. In those four decades, it's gone from a three-day occasion to a month-long revelry in the frightening and macabre.

Haunt's popularity has inspired Halloween-themed shows at other venues, such as Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland and Legoland.

"We like to call Haunt 'the granddaddy of them all,' " said Gary Salisbury, a Yorba Linda resident who worked 17 Haunts for Knott's entertainment division, beginning with the inaugural Haunt in 1973. "It spawned a whole industry."

That's part of the challenge for Knott's current creative minds: How to reach deeper into the tens of thousands of repeat Haunt visitors and still jolt them with adrenaline.

"Every year, we try to make things fresh," said Lara Hanneman, one of Knott's entertainment directors. "We watch our competitors. They've been copying us for a very long time, so we need to make sure we're always one step ahead of them."

Some years, that means new shows; others, it's new twists in the monster mazes. Because of that, Haunt planners don't even wait for the park's fake cobwebs to be replaced with Christmas holly before they start devising the following year's event.

It wasn't like that in 1973, the year the Watergate burglars stood trial, President Richard Nixon stopped U.S. offensive action in Vietnam, and CBS-TV aired the final episode of "Bonanza."

Knott's marketing crew came up with the idea that September for a three-day event to be held the weekend before Halloween. At the time, there were no hints it would become an annual event with a cult following; the employees had the more-modest goal of shoring up attendance during a traditionally slow time.

But several elements came together, even back then, that are familiar today, including employees dressed as ghouls roaming the park, looking for victims.

They almost did too good a job spooking their quarry.

"We learned they should go in groups of two or three, because of the abuse from the guests," Salisbury said. "They would attack us."

That wasn't enough for a showman like Hurlbut, according to the history compendium "Knott's Preserved." The book describes how the normally quiet Hurlbut donned a gorilla suit, went up to the Mine Ride's famous Cavern Room, and roared at trains passing by.

"Gosh, it scared them," the book quotes Hurlbut as recalling. "Some women laid down right on the floor of the train car!"

These gruesome guys await maze-goers who dare to enter Uncle Willie's Slaughterhouse at this year's 40th annual Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This year's event will be Knott's Berry Farm's 40th Halloween Haunt; in those four decades, it's gone from a three-day occasion to a month-long revelry in the frightening and macabre. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This clown will be waiting to spook visitors at this year's 40th Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
These scary clowns will be waiting to freak out visitors to Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre in 3D maze at this year's 40th Halloween Haunt. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
You'll meet this nutty character inside Uncle Bobo's Big Top of the Bizarre in 3D maze at Knott's Berry Farm's 40th Halloween Haunt. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Gore awaits those who enter Uncle Willie's Slaughterhouse at this year's 40th Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The gore is high inside Uncle Willie's Slaughterhouse at Halloween Haunt. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A hand reaches gruesomely from the kitchen sink inside Uncle Willie's Slaughterhouse. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
There were only a handful of monsters roaming Ghost Town in the early years, and they included characters from the popular "Planet of the Apes" movie. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Popular television monster movie host Seymour hosted the first stage show at Knott's Halloween Haunt in 1973 in the Ghoul Time Theatre. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Radio and television personality Wolfman Jack poses with Marion and Virginia Knott. Wolfman Jack took over for Seymour in the Ghoul Time Theatre in 1975. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Ghost Town monsters attack can-can girls during the first year of Haunt. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
The show "Sacrifice in Fire" started in 1977 on Fiesta Island. The show included a wizard and swamp monsters named "Hydroloids." COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
John Waite, one of Knott's early ride crew members, decorates the Mine Ride in 1977. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
One of the first Halloween Haunt mazes was the Trail of Terror which was built in Boot Hill Cemetery behind Jeffries Barn. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
While wandering the streets of Ghost Town in the early years, guests would be greeted by traditional Halloween characters including the Mummy, Dracula and Wolf Man. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Dracula and Vampira were frequent feature players during the early Haunt days, as shown in this publicity photo from 1983. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
The first "Witch Hanging" at Knott's Scary Farm did not occur until 1980, but the first hanging of record was "The Dead Man's Hanging," which took place in 1976. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Local monster horror film television hostess Elvira was recruited to take over the show in the Ghoul Time Theatre in 1982. She would headline at the venue on and off until 2001. Here she is shown with one of her co-hosts, the Cryptkeeper. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Modern monsters are by Knott's Berry Farm's entertainment and wardrobe department. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Making its return this year, the maze "Delirium" brings nightmares to life, whether they're of an insect infestation or a haunted hallway. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Back for its third season, Fallout Shelter brings guests face to face with toxic mutants and nuclear freaks. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Pig characters have been a staple in Ghost Town streets for years. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Still one of Knott's Scary Farm's most popular mazes, the Terror of London, will be back for a fourth year. Beware, Jack the Ripper is still on the loose. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Also back for a fourth year, Virus Z will once again welcome guests to the town of Pleasanton where dozens of hunger-crazed zombies wait. COURTESY OF KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt Museum is dedicated to the 40-year history of the special event. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, was the hostess of a live show for many years at Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt. This is a replica of her costume and set. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
One of the masks and costumes worn in years past at Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt is on display in the theme park's museum. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt is celebrating its 40th year. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Some of the 40-year history of the Halloween Haunt is on a wall display inside a museum at Knott's Berry Farm. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This mask was worn by some of the actors that are part of the Halloween Haunt's 40-year history. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Posters from different years of Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt are on display inside a museum in Ghost Town. MARK EADES, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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